To Those Putting Up Pro-Life Signs In My County

There is a surprisingly large number of pro-life displays in my county, mostly on the side of the highway, for all to see.

I find them offensive for the following reasons, among others:

– They target women only, which conveniently ignores men’s shared responsibility for an unplanned pregnancy
– They attempt to use shame and guilt to motivate women to a certain narrow agenda, women who are already in a very vulnerable position
– They ignore the many larger societal issues that contribute to women considering abortion
– They ignore that there may be extenuating circumstances that, if known, would make abortion the only viable option

And my #1 reason:

– These displays fail to provide any useful, practical information that can help people faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Telling women that adoption is a good thing is nothing more than hot air when there are no website addresses, toll-free numbers, or other concrete information they can use to access help and support.

The organizations and landowners organizing the erection of this signage are also spending thousands of dollars on old truck trailers, sign production services, fencing materials, and other items to promote their agenda, money that, in my opinion, could be better used if donated towards services that actually help women facing unplanned pregnancies.

I’m not arguing this from a pro-life versus pro-choice point of view, I’m just saying these pro-life organizations need to step up to the plate and help these people in need instead of just telling people how live. I’m cool with them offering help that aligns with their values, but they’re not doing that with these campaigns. They are paying for expensive soap boxes.

I’ve decided what I’m going to do. Until those signs change, I will be donating $5 every time I pass one of these signs to a local pro-choice organization that offers services that help people dealing with unplanned pregnancies determine what the best decision is for them, and lines them up with the services and agencies they need. Maybe it’s keeping the baby (with the establishment of proper support systems), maybe it’s adoption, maybe it is an abortion, but the point is, these people need practical support in a difficult time, not condemnation and shame.